Clint Bowyer: Having fun is key to his success

Shane Walters November 1, 2018

Clint Bowyer: “I’ve gotta be able to enjoy all this. Or my personalty and stuff just don’t mesh with racing.”

Clint Bowyer talks Stewart-Haas Racing and NASCAR checks

After 14 years in NASCAR, Clint Bowyer is en route to what could be his best season ever. This year, he’s collected two wins. As far as victories go, that’s his second best season, he had three wins in 2012.

He has an average finish of 12th following 33 races in 2018. He averaged 10th in 2012 (career best) and 11th in 2013. He’s led more laps this year than an single-season prior.

“It does feel a lot like 2012. The confidence is there. Our performance and things like that, back when I was with [Brian] Pattie. In 2012, we won three races that year. We had a really great year. The best year that I’d ever had, until this year.”

“This year, you’ve got teammates. I mean, I had teammates back then. Martin [Truex] was a great teammates back then. But, having three teammates — And the way this organization is structured — It’s just, it’s fun.”

“This stuff’s fun again. Your partners on the car, are fun. Rusty Rush, all his buddies are staying at my house this weekend [at Martinsville]. This is fun again. For me, that’s what it takes. I’ve gotta be able to enjoy all this. Or my personalty and stuff just don’t mesh with racing.”

Rusty Rush is the CEO of Rush Travel Centers. He’s been the CEO since 2003. They are a primary sponsor of Clint Bowyer’s #14 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series machine.

“The reason I got here. And the reason that everybody got here is because of winning. How I had that success back in those days was because we had more fun than the rest of them.”

“Right now, we’re having quite a bit of fun.”

Clint Bowyer started on the front row at Martinsville Speedway. He was looking to pick up where he left off at the same track in the spring, with a win. Instead, he left the track with a 21st place run. He’s now -42 of the cut off line heading into the race at Texas Motor Speedway.

“Pressure is fun — You’re racing for something very prestigious. It’s a big damn deal. It’s fun to be competing for that and it’s an honor. It’s something I haven’t been able to do in a long time.”

Clint Bowyer: Underrated?

Clint Bowyer is now in the prime of his career. Something to keep in mind as the NASCAR Playoffs come to a close. He has a top-10 rate near 50% for 2018.

Are you an underrated driver?

“Hell, I don’t know. No, I don’t really care about that. I gotta be able to be having fun to have success. I found that within my race team.”

“The playoffs are fun. That pressure’s fun. It’s fun to be nervous. It’s fun to be going to the race track going, ‘Oh damn, we’re going to have a good day.’ ”

Clint Bowyer is known to be one of those guys that can’t stand in one place for too long without feeling uncomfortable. He’s active and needs to be doing something. Those types of people aren’t always known to be hyper focused.

“It’s a good feeling. It keeps you sharp and it keeps you focused. Which is something I’m maybe not very good at.”

Does it bother you when people say you shouldn’t have made it to the round of 8?

“I don’t care. It doesn’t matter. All’s I know is the checks keep getting bigger,” Clint Bowyer stated before he literally dropped the mic and left the press conference.

Cover Photo: BROOKLYN, MI - JUNE 10: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas 30 Years of the VF1 Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)